Development of a Simple Web-based GIS System for Sustainable Housing Projects VisualizatioN

This paper presents a simple web-based GIS system for visualization of Baan Mankong, as known as sustainable housing projects for communities of low-incomers in Thailand. The Baan Mankong project has been so successful that numbers of projects initialized have been increasing during the past couple of years. The projects information is gathered in a huge database, but there is a lack of visualization tool to help the officers and executives to have a global view of the projects spatial distribution and to have a quick access to project information. GIS is proposed as a tool to be developed on the web for the visualization of this project. The Baan Mankongis work flow and project information are studied in order to select only necessary information to be stored in the system. Then, the geographic visualization tool development process is presented

Visual training in virtual world: a comparative study between traditional learning versus learning in a virtual world

This paper presents a comparative study of Architecture students who study in a tradition learning environment and Innovative Design students who study in a 3D virtual environment. Both groups share the same objectives. Their learning pattern went through a three-step learning process where issues related to Design Composition theory were inserted. A survey and an in-depth interview showed a discontinued creative process amongst Architecture students due to class management. It showed that Innovative Design students should have more small assignments to better understand issues related to Design Composition theory with emphasis on developing their communication skill in using Visual Training technical terms. The differences between the two learning approaches were discussed

Three Approaches of the Use of Image to Assist Architectural Design

The image is the support of ideas search in the whole design phase. The definition of assistance tools, by using the image, seems to be applicable whatever the stage of the process of architectural design is. This article presents three approaches, which intend to study the contribution of the image inside of the architectural design process. The first approach rests on the idea that architects use external references as generating elements of new project ideas and that it is possible to organize this referential knowledge by taking the image as structuring entity of this knowledge. The two other approaches intend to use image to support the formulation of information designer's needs in more advanced phases of the design process. The identified needs are those of the architect who searches a particular information in order to justify or to perform some choices, during the act of conception